City Pulse: Finally becoming a cowgirl

Buying a pair of cowgirl boots is like a defining moment in life, such as getting measured for your first bra or multiple failures looking like Ronald McDonald while choosing the perfect shade of red lipstick.

I've owned tons of boots, from dark burgundy Dr. Martens with the steel-toe kicker to a shameful collection of Uggs - don't judge me - but I've never taken the plunge to the old westerner store and gotten my hands on the leathery wonder that makes anyone look authentic and cool.

A photographer at the Advocate owns a pair of cowgirl boots, and when she struts through the newsroom, I always think, "that's a cool chick" (sorry, Angeli).

However, when it comes down to owning a pair, I'm conflicted. I don't know if it's the California girl in me desperately grasping the last shred of west coast swag I have - I started saying y'all a long time ago; I actually prefer the greasy Whataburger to the In-N-Out burger; and I kicked Pepsi to the curb a long time ago for its spicy brother Dr. Pepper - or if I'm just afraid I'll look like a big ol' phony in my undoubtedly too pink and too bedazzled boots.

And then came Bootfest.

Bootfest brought all this torment to the forefront of my life, and I'm suddenly considering a purchase to show off at the shindig that's designed to celebrate the rich ranching heritage in our region and all things boots.

Here goes nothing.

Wait. Here goes everything. Buying a pair of cowgirl boots is like a defining moment in life, such as getting measured for your first bra or multiple failures looking like Ronald McDonald while choosing the perfect shade of red lipstick. So, excuse me while I mosey into Cavender's, handkerchief in hand, and post one too many selfies on Instagram, but this is kind of a big deal to me.

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Boot shopping 101

• Bring plenty of water. Shopping for boots isn't like choosing between a roma or a campari tomato - always choose campari - there are a lot of options, and you'll probably get dehydrated. Bring a snack to be safe.

• Know your size. One simply cannot buy a pair of boots without trying them on and walking around. Boots don't fit like a regular pair of shoes; they should fit like they were made for your feet. But keep in mind the leather will stretch a bit.

• Know your price range. To be frank, it's easy to be dazzled by all the pretty boots. But they can range from $200 to upward of $800 or more depending on what you're buying. Set a budget and stick to it. But be realistic; as the saying goes, "you get what you pay for."

• Let your fans do the judging. Snap a picture of your boots before purchasing them and share it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The last thing you want is to spend a few Benjamins on boots that make you look awful.